Karapiro 2010 wins first International Olympic Committee Environmental Award

The inaugural winners of the International Olympic Committee’s new Award for Sport and the Environment have been announced on the first day of the World Conference on Sport and Environment in Vancouver – and New Zealand has taken centre stage with the Karapiro 2010 World Rowing Championships winning one of just five global awards.

The inaugural trophies were presented to five organisations representing the continents which have made tremendous contributions to the implementation of outstanding practices in the field of sustainable sport and the environment – and groundbreaking environmental strategies and plans for the 2010 World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro were enough to convince the judges that the new global Olympic environmental award should go to New Zealand, Karapiro and rowing.

Karapiro 2010’s Rainbow Project – a portfolio of environmental strategies being developed around the event – hugely impressed the judging panel.

“We are stunned with the victory,” explained Karapiro 2010 CEO Tom Mayo. “It’s obviously a massive endorsement for all of the work we are doing for the championships in 2010 and clearly demonstrates that our environmental approach is at the cutting edge of what is expected of sport in the 21st century.

Rainbow Project initiatives built around the 2010 event include a carbon emission reduction scheme, a zero waste plan, educational programmes, a comprehensive bio security strategy for all international boats and equipment heading to the venue for the event, environmental protection for all permanent and temporary infrastructure, the inclusion of an environmental officer on the organising committee and plans to provide environmental training to ensure all officials and volunteers have a ‘green’ focus.

“Right from the beginning, the whole World Championship project has been about adding to the quality of the Karapiro domain and not just for the rowers, but for everyone who visits the venue. We are working very closely with many partners to make these goals realities,” added Mayo.

“The award is a testament to everyone’s efforts. It’s not easy to turn a philosophy into a practical plan and process on such a complex event, and it requires buy in and support at every level from everyone involved.

“The Rainbow Project encompasses all of our environmental initiatives, goals and strategies and involves a high degree of planning and delivery that some sporting events might consider more than enough, but that’s the way we want to deliver this championship.

The World, Rowing Championships will be held at Lake Karapiro between October 29th and November 7th. They were last held in New Zealand in 1978 – an event which is widely acknowledged as one of the best ever in the sport’s history.